Patricia Staby Rogers, remarkable artist
Patricia “Pat” Staby Rogers, 70, of Lewes, passed away peacefully at her residence Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013. She was born March 3, 1943, in Port Chester, N.Y., daughter of Evelyn (Smith) Staby and the late Paul W. Staby.
Pat dedicated a lifelong career to her art. She was regionally known for her Fabric Art by Pat Staby, and showcased it at her Market Street Studios in Lewes where she worked alongside her husband. Pat was admired and respected as a remarkable artist who transcended her craft into works of art.
Like her persona, her pillows and tapestries carried a clear message of insight and intent. They were like editorials or political cartoons, commenting on the day or expressing the mood of the moment. Their wit, whimsy, and superb construction carried expression to another level, tangent to the utility of her craft, and bearing keen and observant witness to her world. She knew how to orchestrate pattern and color in revealing ways that made us see ourselves freshly and honestly - outstanding in every way.
Pat was an active member and supporter of several local organizations, the Lewes Historical Society where she held a position with the board, The Lewes Artists Exchange, Rehoboth Art League, and A Pink Affair to Remember in which she was recently honored and recognized as a dedicated supporter and contributor. Her hobbies included a good game of poker or bridge with the girls, a monthly gathering with her best friends (The Art Group) out on the town, and traveling the world with her husband, especially to France and Italy.
She also found joy in cooking, described as a “world-class cook” by her husband; she never needed to use a recipe to create delicious dishes for the people she loved. Pat was a true artist in every sense of the word; from life to fabric she had an intuitive way of making everything beautiful and kind. Her many memories she created will remain unforgettable to everyone who knew and loved her.
In addition to her mother, Pat is survived by her loving husband of 24 years, Steve Rogers; her three children: Pamela Skeele and her husband Rob of Syracuse, N.Y., Alex Skinner and his fiancée Karen of Rescue, Calif., and Melanie Skinner and her husband Vaughn Real of Seattle, Wash.; her two stepchildren: Angela Rogers and her husband Esten Martz of Bellefonte, Pa., and Chris Rogers of Harrisburg, Pa.; her sister, Nancy Boardman and her husband Bill of Gulf Stream, Fla.; her brother, Bill Staby and his wife Ann of Boston, Mass.; and her five grandchildren: Mary Skeele, Carsen Skeele, Dale Skinner, Lee Skinner, and Fiona Real.
All services will be private. Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Lewes.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963, or to the Tunnell Cancer Center c/o Beebe Medical Foundation, 424 Savannah Road, Lewes, DE 19958.
